Town beggars put before magistrates

Three men appeared at Reading Magistrates’ Court recently to be reprimanded for begging.

Meanwhile eight more people were either arrested or charged with committing similar offences in Reading in March.

Avelino Ribeiro, 40, of Willow Street, Reading town centre, was charged with three offences of begging in a public place and received a day in custody and a £50 fine.

Jason Sanders-Fox, 30, of Southcote Road, Southcote, was charged with one offence of begging in a public place and received a six-month conditional discharge at the same court.

Barry Wooton, 21, of Oxford Road, West Reading, was charged with eight offences of persistently begging in a public place and received a 12-month conditional discharge.

Sergeant Simon Wheeler said: “We are pleased with these results and a continuation of these offences by any of these offenders shall lead to applications for anti-social behaviour orders, if this is required to stop their offending.”